1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

◄ 1 John 3:1 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

English Standard Version
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

New American Standard Bible
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

King James Bible
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God's children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn't know Him.

International Standard Version
See what kind of love the Father has given us: We are called God's children—and that is what we are! For this reason the world does not recognize us, because it did not recognize him, either.

American Standard Version
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and'such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not him.

Darby Bible Translation
See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God. For this reason the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

Young's Literal Translation
See ye what love the Father hath given to us, that children of God we may be called; because of this the world doth not know us, because it did not know Him;

Cross References

Deuteronomy 14:1
You are the children of the LORD your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.

Luke 20:36
Neither can they die any more: for they are equal to the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 11:52
And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

John 15:18
If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:21
But all these things will they do to you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

John 16:3
And these things will they do to you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 8:16
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Jump to Previous

Bestowed Cause Children God's Great Love Manner Marvellous Naming Reason Recognize World

Jump to Next

Bestowed Cause Children God's Great Love Manner Marvellous Naming Reason Recognize World

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:1,2 Little does the world know of the happiness of the real followers of Christ. Little does the world think that these poor, humble, despised ones, are favourites of God, and will dwell in heaven. Let the followers of Christ be content with hard fare here, since they are in a land of strangers, where their Lord was so badly treated before them. The sons of God must walk by faith, and live by hope. They may well wait in faith, hope, and earnest desire, for the revelation of the Lord Jesus. The sons of God will be known, and be made manifest by likeness to their Head. They shall be transformed into the same image, by their view of him.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 3

1Jo 3:1-24. Distinguishing Marks of the Children of God and the Children of the Devil. Brotherly Love the Essence of True Righteousness.

1. Behold—calling attention, as to some wonderful exhibition, little as the world sees to admire. This verse is connected with the previous 1Jo 2:29, thus: All our doing of righteousness is a mere sign that God, of His matchless love, has adopted us as children; it does not save us, but is a proof that we are saved of His grace.

what manner of—of what surpassing excellence, how gracious on His part, how precious to us.

love … bestowed—He does not say that God hath given us some gift, but love itself and the fountain of all honors, the heart itself, and that not for our works or efforts, but of His grace [Luther].

that—"what manner of love"; resulting in, proved by, our being, &c. The immediate effect aimed at in the bestowal of this love is, "that we should be called children of God."

should be called—should have received the privilege of such a glorious title (though seeming so imaginary to the world), along with the glorious reality. With God to call is to make really to be. Who so great as God? What nearer relationship than that of sons? The oldest manuscripts add, "And we ARE SO" really.

therefore—"on this account," because "we are (really) so."

us—the children, like the Father.

it knew him not—namely, the Father. "If they who regard not God, hold thee in any account, feel alarmed about thy state" [Bengel]. Contrast 1Jo 5:1. The world's whole course is one great act of non-recognition of God.